29082008 - Euro 2008 Finale, originally uploaded by Virany.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Campionati Europei di Calcio - Spagna Italia
UEFA EURO 2008 - Campionati Europei di Calcio - Spagna Italia, originally uploaded by manfrotto tripods.
European Football Championships.
Quarterfinals: Spain vs Italy at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
In the photo: Iker Casillas, David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and their Spanish teammates celebrate the qualification to the semifinals after the victory on Italy after the penalty kicks.
Euro 2008: Espanha 4 x 1 Rússia
Euro 2008: Espanha 4 x 1 Rússia, originally uploaded by yesportes.
Fabregas comemora o quarto gol espanhol na goleada sobre a Rússia. O camisa 10 da seleção comandada por Luís Aragonés jogou apenas 37 minutos
Viva Espana
Viva España!, originally uploaded by Squiz1210.
Champions of Europe! They won!
I'm so happy I took a celebratory photo of this fridge magnet I have. I'm so sad but I couldn't help it.
I've followed Spain right through the tournament and Matt and I had predicted them to win even before the first ball was kicked....yippee!
I'm a Liverpool fan too so having Fernando Torres score the winning goal was extra special.
Btw, the black background is my highly reflective black glass dining table - I had to photoshop the dust off it ;)
Spain v Germany
EURO 08 GERMANY VS SPAIN, originally uploaded by jgabriel_27.
Cesc Fabregas controla el balon durante la final de la Euro 2008..
Soccer Euro 2008 100 Days to go
Soccer Euro 2008 100 Days to go, originally uploaded by hannie_kiss.
Spain's national soccer team line up before a Euro 2008 qualifying soccer match against Sweden at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday Nov. 17, 2007. Top Row, left to right; Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Carlos Marchens, Sergio Ramos, David Albelda and Joan Capdievila. Bottom Row, left to right; David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Xavi Hernandez and Carles Pujol. On Thursday, Feb 28, 2008 it's 100 days to go for the opening match of the soccer Euro 2008 on June 7, 2008 in Basel. The Euro 2008 runs through June 29, 2008.
Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres
78259963ME085_Spain_v_Russi, originally uploaded by minic0.
INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - JUNE 10: Fernando Torres of Spain celebrates victory with Cesc Fabregas of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2008 Group D match between Spain and Russia at Stadion Tivoli Neu on June 10, 2008 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Spanish wins vs Rusia
81402954ME061_Russia_v_Spai, originally uploaded by azzurri_nr1.
Daniel Guiza (#17) of Spain celebrates scoring Spain's second goal with Xabi Alonso (L) and Cesc Fabregas of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2008 Semi Final match between Russia and Spain at Ernst Happel Stadion on June 26, 2008 in Vienna, Austria.
Melancholy end to Germany?s Euro 2008 party
Germany's three-week-long Euro 2008 party ended with a whimper on Sunday as throngs of colourful supporters headed home forlornly after defeat to Spain, but looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup.
'How are we supposed to feel? We lost the match but we are still European vice champions, the second best team in Europe,' said Yves, 24, as he left the 'Fan Mile' where 600,000 supporters had watched the match in central Berlin.
'The Germans could have made better use of the chances they had and the (Spanish) goal was just a defensive error ... But we are still European vice champions.'
'We have to get up early tomorrow so I don't think we are going to go and party now ... But if we had won we would have phoned up work and told them we were not coming in.'
But Fred was already over the defeat and looking to the future.
'We were third in the World Cup, now second in the European Championship. But the next World Cup we are going to win,' the 25-year-old predicted.
German city centres had been raucous seas of flags, wigs and Hawaiian-style necklaces - all in the German black, red and gold - with 72 percent of fans predicting victory, according to a poll in the Bild am Sonntag paper.
Huge crowds had turned out under sunny skies to cheer 'Deutschland! Deutschland!' in an orgy of flag-waving national pride in a country now much more comfortable with patriotism ever since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In all, 85 percent of the country's 82 million population had been expected to follow the match, according to a survey in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, bringing the country to a standstill.
German automakers like Daimler, Volkswagen and Audi shut down production during the game so that their workers could follow it.
But after the spectacular quarter-final defeat over Portugal and the lucky escape against Turkey in the semis, what Bild called the 'Wunder von Wien' was no wonder of Vienna.
Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half as football's perennial underachievers ended their 44-year-drought in major international football championships.
Germans started well, with Miroslav Klose missing a glorious opportunity after just four minutes, but then Spain soon started to take control and on 33 minutes Torres put Spain ahead with a moment of sublime quality.
Germany had their chances in the second half but Spain remained dangerous and held their nerve to win the championship 1-0.
'We were bad, that's all. It was utterly deserved. The Spanish played better than us, we had no defence,' 41-year-old Marwan, his face painted in the national colours, told AFP in Berlin.
The 'Fan Mile' in Berlin emptied swiftly after the game, leaving the few small groups of Spanish fans to come together and celebrate, chanting 'Viva Espana!' and waving flags.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was shown literally jumping for joy in Basel when the winning goal against Turkey hit the back of the net on Wednesday, was in Vienna for the match along with President Horst Koehler and other ministers.
Merkel became a regular in the stands during the World Cup, and she has even taken to giving the players some motherly advice. Her spokesman had to keep her informed of the score by text message after an EU summit clashed with the Portugal quarter-final.
A parade has been organised in central Berlin for Monday for the players - despite the defeat - and the city authorities have asked schools to give pupils the afternoon off so they can attend.
'It is very important for us that the team will be greeted by its supporters back in Germany. Berlin has become like a second home to us since the 2006 World Cup,' Germany coach Joachim Loew had said before the game.
With only just over 100,000 Spaniards living in Germany, it was perhaps no surprise that Spanish fans were hard to find in Berlin.
But there were a few, and they were delighted - if a little uneasy being so small in number in a sea of German fans.
'We are so happy. We didn't expect that. It is wonderful, it is just wonderful,' 22-year-old Anna from Barcelona told AFP in English. 'We just don't know where we can go and make the fiesta.'
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas
FBL-EURO-2008-ESP-TRAINING, originally uploaded by Masha3l.
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas attends a press conference after a training session on June 7, 2008 in Neustif, near Innsbruck, Austria. Spain will play in group D with Russia, Greece and Sweden during the Euro 2008 football tournament hosted by Switzerland and Austria from June 7 to 29
Esp training Euro 2008
FBL-EURO-2008-ESP-TRAINING, originally uploaded by azzurri_nr1.
Spain's Cesc Fabregas (2nd L) runs with teammates Carlos Marchena (2ndR), Fernando Torres (L) and David Villa (R) during a training session on June 23, 2008 at Sportplatz Kampl in Neustift im Stubaital, near Innsbruck. Luis Aragones said on Monday that he would not go back on his decision to retire as Spain coach after Euro 2008 despite having guided them to their first semi-final in 24 years
Soccer Euro 2008 Spain Russia
Soccer Euro 2008 Spain Russia, originally uploaded by vanessa_chua92.
Spain's Fernando Torres, left, is replaced by Cesc Fabregas, center, during the group D match between Spain and Russia in Innsbruck, Austria, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
A Spanish Victory and a Celebration Worthy of the 44-Year Wait
Spain made sure it did not disappoint any of its fans Sunday night, both during its 1-0 victory against Germany to win the European Championship and after it.
Fernando Torres scored in the 33rd minute and the Spaniards never backed down against such a formidable opponent. Their last significant title came in the 1964 Euros at home.
“It is to me the most important day in Spanish football in many, many years,” Torres said.
Against the highly accomplished Germans, the Spaniards were not intimidated. They got the one goal they needed — from a slumping striker, no less — and set off chants of “ES-PAÑA!” and “Ole, Ole, Ole!” at the final whistle.
The entire Spanish squad ran over to the huge rooting section of red and gold, exchanging hugs, while many of the spent Germans collapsed to the turf.
When Spain’s goalkeeper and captain, Iker Casillas, accepted the trophy on a stage, the Spanish fans began chanting the melody to their national anthem, which has no words. Thousands of camera flashes went off as the players jumped in place, then headed onto the field to show off their prize.
The Spaniards were not close to finished with their celebration that was so long in the making. They marched to their rooting section, hoisting the cup and saluting their flag-waving, firecracker-exploding fans.
“We have won in a brilliant way,” Coach Luis Aragonés said. “We will be able to start saying we can win, a European championship as well as any other thing.”
In beating a team that makes a habit of appearing in championship finals, the Spaniards put to rest a reputation for underachieving. Always loaded with talented players, Spain has spent four decades falling short of expectations.
That all changed at these Euros, where the Spaniards swept their first-round games, eliminated the World Cup champion Italy in a penalty-kicks shootout in the quarterfinals, then routed Russia, 3-0, in the semifinals.
“We played the best for the entire tournament, and we beat some great teams,” Torres said. “We beat Italy, the World Cup champion, and we beat Russia and now Germany. That is how you become champion.”
Germany has won three Euros and three World Cups, but was no match in this final. The captain Michael Ballack, questionable before the game with a calf injury, started, but hardly was noticeable — except when he left for several minutes to have a bloody right eye treated.
“We had a great tournament but made one mistake too many,” Ballack said. “We were lacking of power against a great Spanish team. We couldn’t keep up with them.”
Torres, who had 33 goals for Liverpool this season but had been invisible in the Euros, came through off a brilliant feed from Xavi Hernández.
Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, at 38 the oldest player in the competition, charged from his net when he saw that defender Philipp Lahm was beaten on the right side. But Torres chipped the ball over the sliding Lehmann and into the gaping goal.
The crowd of 51,428 at Ernst Happel Stadium, split almost equally, might have expected the Spaniards to go into a protective shell. Instead, and even without their leading scorer, David Villa (leg injury), they continued to carry the attack and were far more dangerous than Germany the rest of the way.
Indeed, Lehmann, who helped the Germans to third place in the 2006 World Cup, kept it close with several tough saves.
This was the last game for 69-year-old Aragonés, the oldest coach to win the Euros.
“The most important thing about our team, perhaps, is the manager,” Torres said. “He has confidence in us, and he lets us play. We have brought him the championship in his last game for Spain, and we are very happy we could make this history for him and for us.”
Germany’s Joachim Loew has a contract through the 2010 World Cup but will need to find the spark Germany showed periodically in Austria and Switzerland.
“Spain played very well during the whole tournament, and they were technically excellent,” Loew said. “They fully deserve victory.”
(query.nytimes)
Fernando Torres scored in the 33rd minute and the Spaniards never backed down against such a formidable opponent. Their last significant title came in the 1964 Euros at home.
“It is to me the most important day in Spanish football in many, many years,” Torres said.
Against the highly accomplished Germans, the Spaniards were not intimidated. They got the one goal they needed — from a slumping striker, no less — and set off chants of “ES-PAÑA!” and “Ole, Ole, Ole!” at the final whistle.
The entire Spanish squad ran over to the huge rooting section of red and gold, exchanging hugs, while many of the spent Germans collapsed to the turf.
When Spain’s goalkeeper and captain, Iker Casillas, accepted the trophy on a stage, the Spanish fans began chanting the melody to their national anthem, which has no words. Thousands of camera flashes went off as the players jumped in place, then headed onto the field to show off their prize.
The Spaniards were not close to finished with their celebration that was so long in the making. They marched to their rooting section, hoisting the cup and saluting their flag-waving, firecracker-exploding fans.
“We have won in a brilliant way,” Coach Luis Aragonés said. “We will be able to start saying we can win, a European championship as well as any other thing.”
In beating a team that makes a habit of appearing in championship finals, the Spaniards put to rest a reputation for underachieving. Always loaded with talented players, Spain has spent four decades falling short of expectations.
That all changed at these Euros, where the Spaniards swept their first-round games, eliminated the World Cup champion Italy in a penalty-kicks shootout in the quarterfinals, then routed Russia, 3-0, in the semifinals.
“We played the best for the entire tournament, and we beat some great teams,” Torres said. “We beat Italy, the World Cup champion, and we beat Russia and now Germany. That is how you become champion.”
Germany has won three Euros and three World Cups, but was no match in this final. The captain Michael Ballack, questionable before the game with a calf injury, started, but hardly was noticeable — except when he left for several minutes to have a bloody right eye treated.
“We had a great tournament but made one mistake too many,” Ballack said. “We were lacking of power against a great Spanish team. We couldn’t keep up with them.”
Torres, who had 33 goals for Liverpool this season but had been invisible in the Euros, came through off a brilliant feed from Xavi Hernández.
Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, at 38 the oldest player in the competition, charged from his net when he saw that defender Philipp Lahm was beaten on the right side. But Torres chipped the ball over the sliding Lehmann and into the gaping goal.
The crowd of 51,428 at Ernst Happel Stadium, split almost equally, might have expected the Spaniards to go into a protective shell. Instead, and even without their leading scorer, David Villa (leg injury), they continued to carry the attack and were far more dangerous than Germany the rest of the way.
Indeed, Lehmann, who helped the Germans to third place in the 2006 World Cup, kept it close with several tough saves.
This was the last game for 69-year-old Aragonés, the oldest coach to win the Euros.
“The most important thing about our team, perhaps, is the manager,” Torres said. “He has confidence in us, and he lets us play. We have brought him the championship in his last game for Spain, and we are very happy we could make this history for him and for us.”
Germany’s Joachim Loew has a contract through the 2010 World Cup but will need to find the spark Germany showed periodically in Austria and Switzerland.
“Spain played very well during the whole tournament, and they were technically excellent,” Loew said. “They fully deserve victory.”
(query.nytimes)
Fabregas Final Euro 2008 min 31
FBL-EURO-2008-GER-ESP-MATCH 31, originally uploaded by tranhanthien.
Germany's midfielder Michael Ballack (L) view with Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas during the Euro 2008 championships final football match Germany vs. Spain on June 29, 2008 at Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria. Spain won 0-1 and is European champion
Euro 2008 Final Arsenal Kits
Euro 2008 Final Arsenal Kits, originally uploaded by Jeffery Simpson.
My Arsenal shirts for Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The final is today against these two nations.
My Arsenal shirts for Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The Euro 2008 final is today against these two nations.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Germany v Spain - Euro 2008 Final - Preview
A look at the two Euro 2008 finalists, their strengths and weaknesses and what both teams need to do in order to win the cup.
Germany
Germany have had a topsy-turvy tournament, losing to Croatia and struggling against Turkey but dispatching quarter-final opponents Portugal with ease. While the Spanish team is probably more talented than their Iberian counterparts, both sides aim to slow the game down, something that will suit the Germans just fine considering how at sea they were against the high-tempo Turks.
Expect Loew to put out a 4-5-1 to nullify Spain’s midfield threat and to capitalise on Germany’s aerial advantage. Despite the below-par semifinal performance Germany are sure to be up for this one, with the likes of Ballack, Klose, Frings (if he comes back in as expected) and Schweinsteiger to rise to the challenge. Mentally the Germans are quite strong but they will have to be patient and focus - the last thing they need is to lose concentration for a split second and concede a goal.
What I’d like to see is for Germany to play a high-tempo game and push Spain on the backfoot with a 4-5-1 that denies them the space or time to launch effective counter-attacks. It’s not going to happen though since that’s an almost suicidal approach, so you can expect Germany to sit back, mark Torres out of the game, try to score in the first 45 minutes and then play on the counter.
Spain
Fabregas deserves a starting spot based on his recent performances and Villa’s injury may prompt Aragones to give Cesc a start in a 4-5-1 formation that gives the Spanish midfield contingent more options to go forward. This team is on a 21-match unbeaten run and they can make it 22 as long as they don’t get flustered and keep their defence tight. With the way Spain are playing, they’re bound to score a goal and as long as they can defend properly, Lehmann will be the more worried of two keepers in Ernst Happel.
Russia were not able to capitalise on Villa’s injury but Germany can and you might see Torres tightly marked out of the game. Spain also lack in the height department but that shouldn’t rattle this bunch too much - they are perfectly capable of keeping the game on the floor as it as.
To win, Spain will need to raise the tempo of their game and with a 5-man midfield then can afford to do push forward more than usual. The sit-back-and-wait strategy has worked really well for them so far but Germany in my mind would be more comfortable playing against that than against a high-tempo Spain. It’s risky, but Aragones seems inspired and he might switch tactics to spur his team on over the final hurdle.
Predictions
Can Fabregas stamp his mark on this tournament with a match-winning performance? Can Michael Ballack finally win a big international tournament? Both teams look certain to score in every game but so far Germany have had the leakier defense, so my money is on Spain to win 2-1.
Soccerlens
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Fabregas and Adebayor
Fabregas & Adebayor, originally uploaded by PLHee.
From strangers to team mates to close friends.
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